Intercepted Without Even a Ripple
Going after the Sterlings in the court of public opinion was one thing, a good way to bleed their PR and legal funds dry, but the evidence had never been strong enough to get the actual authorities involved. A food safety report, on the other hand? That would force their hand.
If even half of the Sterling Foods product line failed inspection, the authorities would have to order a recall.
The company could be slapped with hefty fines or even shut down completely.
Of course, getting them to suspend operations would take some finesse, and that all depended on how Caleb Sterling played his cards.
Hearing Avery's plan, Caleb raised an eyebrow. "Alright, I'm with you. But you work fast. I just sent some of their products for testing the day before yesterday."
Avery was surprised. So, they were already on the same page.
"Have you tried something like this before?" she asked casually. Given his history with the family, she had a hunch.
Sure enough, a bitter sneer twisted Caleb's lips. "I thought about it. Tried it, even. But it got shut down before it could go anywhere."
Avery went quiet, her mind racing. "Which department shut it down?"
Caleb's mouth tightened into a thin line. "The Health Department."
He'd tried to pull the same move right after he found out Bryce had cheated on him, hoping to make things difficult for Warren Sterling's side of the family.
But he'd been too young back then, with no real power or connections.
He had charged in without understanding just how much influence Warren's branch of the family really wielded, and Bryce had almost caught him.
Thankfully, he'd been careful enough not to handle it himself, hiring a stranger online to submit the report.
After that close call, he didn't dare make another move.
He spent years lying low, playing the part Bryce wanted him to play.
It wasn't until he injured that doctor and everything blew up that he finally saw another chance to fight back.
Avery's expression hardened. "Bypass the Westlake City Health Department," she said, her voice cold. "Submit it to the other departments."
"When can I get the report?" Caleb asked, the excitement clear in his voice. "I want to have everything ready."
"The day after tomorrow, in the evening," Avery said coolly. "Send someone to New York City to get it."
The test report on Sterling Foods was already done, but the analyst wasn't in the city.
They'd already arranged to meet outside the University of Finance and Economics in two days to make the exchange.
To submit the claims, they'd need the third-party report and physical samples of the products.
Her contact would have everything ready; she just had to go pick it up.
With their business concluded, they hung up.
The next day, a colorful sunrise cut through the morning mist, lighting up the city.
Today was the audition. Avery woke early, carefully applying her makeup before getting dressed and heading out of her corporate apartment.
This was her first real shot in front of a major director, and she had to make a good impression.
The few small parts she'd landed in Hollywood had been secured through interviews, not formal auditions like this one.
If she was right, she wouldn't be the only actress reading for *Bones of Mountains and Rivers* today.
There were no unattractive actresses in show business.
To stand out, you needed more than talent; you needed a look, a presence that made people unable to look away.
That was assuming the audition was fair, of course.
If she ran into the usual backroom politics, this whole trip could be a waste of time.
But she had a feeling the chances of that were low.
Director Simon Vance had gotten her the slot, after all.
As long as she could hold her own, she had a real shot.
When she got downstairs, Wyatt Riggs and Shane Croft were already waiting. The moment she stepped outside, the freezing morning air hit her, and she shivered.
Seeing this, Shane handed her a hot chocolate he'd just bought. "Here, warm your hands."
Avery gratefully took the cup and took a quick sip.
"Did it frost last night?" she said, her breath turning to mist. "It feels even colder than yesterday." She clutched the cup, letting the warmth seep into her skin as she slid into the car.
Diana Marks was already inside. She glanced at Avery, who was wearing a slim-fitting oatmeal cashmere dress under her red down jacket, and nodded with satisfaction.
*Smart girl.* The outfit was practical and warm, but it wouldn't get in the way of her audition.
Once the jacket came off, the dress would highlight her incredible figure.
An actor's physique was part of their on-screen presence, something every director noticed.
After looking Avery over, Diana handed her a stack of files. "I got these last night," she said flatly. "Intel on the other five actresses auditioning. Take a look."
Avery nodded, set the hot chocolate in the center console, and took the files.
"Conrad King doesn't just look at pretty faces when he holds auditions," Diana continued. "He casts actors who *are* the character. You studied the breakdown, right? You know how to make an impression in there?"
Avery kept her eyes on the files. "I know," she replied quietly. "I even did my makeup for the role."
The barbarian princess was a stunning woman from a foreign land, she was written as wild and flashy on the surface, but incredibly sharp underneath.
So that morning, Avery had gone with a heavier makeup look.
She'd chosen a rust-red lipstick and winged her eyeliner to give her eyes a deeper, more intense gaze.
It was a look she'd designed specifically for this character.
Once Avery was settled, Shane started toward the North Star Film and Television Studio, driving so smoothly you could barely feel the car moving.
Avery leaned back against the leather seat, studying the files. As she read through the actresses' resumes, her brow furrowed. "This is for a supporting role, so why is the competition all second-tier stars? Whitney Patton is even on this list."
Of the five other actresses, one was Whitney Patton, who had already carried her own films, and the others were all well-known performers who regularly appeared in major productions.
As far as Avery knew, directors considered an actor's fame along with their skill.
She might have gained some buzz on social media lately, but she was nowhere near their level.
"Losing your confidence?" Diana asked, turning to look at her.
Avery closed the file and met her gaze. "All I can do is my best. After that, it's up to Director King."
Even if she was a newcomer, Avery didn't think she was any less capable.
Besides, Alden Pierce had personally coached her after she'd gotten a piece of the script, teaching her how to approach this kind of role.
She had learned everything she needed to.
When it came to understanding and performing the character, she was confident she could go toe-to-toe with any of them.
Thinking of Alden, her eyes suddenly lit up. "When is Mr. Pierce coming back?"
When they'd flown back from California yesterday, Alden had said he had something to take care of and told her to head back to New York first.
A thought struck her: if she got the part, she could bring him with her to the set.
If she ran into anything she didn't understand, she could ask for his advice right there.
Even last-minute coaching was better than no coaching at all.